Vending machine



' 1,633 215 June 1927' 1..- E. LA CROIX VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 gwwwtoz 5 E- LaE-ruix I 1,6 ,2 June 21, 1927. In E LA CROIX 33 15 VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1 1925 3 SheetsSheet 2 Qwuamtoa w Que-MAP ne 21 1927. L. ELLA cRolx VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Louis ELLa [ll-nix Patented June 21, 1927.

U hli'l'El) STA TES v rssazu PATENT .GFFIQE.

LOUIS E. I A GROIX, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

VENDING Application. filed November value.

Another ohjectoi the invention is to provide a vending machine of this character with means for measuring out and delivering a quantity ot peanuts and which also carries and singly ieeds bags or like cons for the peanuts. andprovides a comhag support and outlet for controll 'u ling quantity 01" the peanuts or like articles. M A The invention further aims .to provide a lncchun be utilizedfor tripping or; releasing motor driven machines or .devices which may be used as a dis )lav oradvertising accessory to the machine, such as to efi ectthe operaton of a display web or the playing of a grulmoohone or the like.

A still further object of the invention is provide a measuring cup or receptacle w uh is adjustable as to quantity and which is so mounted that it may be moved vertu cal-1y through a hopper or the like, such as is 35 found in peanut roasting machines so that the freshly roasted peanuts may be vended directly from the roaster. The above and various other objectsand \ntages of this invention will in part-be escribed in and in part beunderstood from 1e following detailed description of the it preferred embodiment, the same heg illustrated in the accompanying-drawwherein: 1 is a front elevation of a combined peanut roasting and vending machineconstructed according to the present invention.

any

Fig. 2 is. an enlarged fragmentary vertireleased, and the upper end of the receptacle cal section taken through the vending mechfflanism.

is. .a transverse section taken through the same.

Fig. At is. a horizontal. section .taken through the upper part of thevending ma- E chine.

Fig. 5.:isa fragmentary perspective view;

shells upon the deposit of a coin of requisite the tinal discharge ofthe measured a performing the above described i'unctions, and which at the same time may MACHINE.

14, 1925. .Serial No. 69,064.

showing in detail the upper end of the measuring receptacle.

Fig. 6' is afragmentary vertical section taken through the same.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken through themeasuring receptacle on the line .7-7 of Fig. 6, and

, Fig. 8 is a further enlarged vertical section taken through the measuring receptacle on the line 88-ot Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings designates a casing which may be provided with a peanut roaster 16 of any approved formfand beneath which is disposed a hopper 17 for receiving the peanuts when roasted, thehop per having a depending neck 18 at its central lower part through which the peanuts orother commodity may be withdrawn.

In the upper end 01 the casing 15 there may be mounted a web 19 or other device for displaying pictures, advertisements .or the like used .in promoting sales of the peanuts contained in the machine. The casing may of course be given any suitable configuration for 'housing the various devices employed. f

Mounted to slide vertically in the neck 18 ot the'hopper or containeris a receptacle 2O formeasuring the quantity of peanuts. The receptacle 20- is given the same transverse configuration as that of the neck 1 8 so that the neck may serve as a guide and a suppor for the receptacle 20. The, receptacle 20 has at its lower end a pair of outwardly extending fingers 21 which are disposed at opposite sides ot' the receptacle and are'connected to belts 22 which are mounted upon and secured to the peripheral portions of wheels 23 fixed upon a shaft 24 which extendstransversely in the casing 15 and has bearing therein at 25 at opposite ends.

*QVhcn .the wheels 23 are turned in one direction they raise the receptacle 2O upward-' ly through the neck into a position above the surface level of the nuts or other articles contained in the hopper 17 The weight of the receptacle is suii clentito turn the wheels 23in a .reverse'dlrection when the wheels are 20, is. adapted'to :movefdown into the neck 18below the bottom'of the hopper '17 so thatv the contents of thehopper may flow toward and fillthe upper end 01" the receptacle. ,The receptacle 20 is provided with an inner. section .orfsleeve26 which closely fits tl16wl11I1l WZLll of the receptacle and provided with adjusting pins 27 selectively engaged in openings 28 termed through the outer wall of the receptacle 20 to hold the sleeve 26 at the desired heigl'it within the receptacle. The openings 28 are vetically spaced apart and the spaces therebetwecn may be graduated to adjust the containing upper end portion of the receptacle 20 to definite measuring capacities. The sleeve 26 is provided upon its upper end with a shutter 29 providing a bottom for the measuring receptacle and the shutter 29 is mounted on hinges 30 and adapted to swing downwardly within the sleeve 26. The shutter 29 is supported across the upper end of the sleeve by a rod 31 which projects at its upper end through notch or opening 32 formed in the edge ot the shutter 29. The rod carries a spring linger 33 which engages beneath the shutter and which is curved so as to cam outwardly from beneath the shutter when the latter is lowered. The lower end of the rod 31 is loosely mounted. in a horizontal bearing 34 carried upon the inner side of the receptacle 20 below the sleeve 26, the rod 31 being bent outwardly right angles at itslower end for passage'through the hearing 34 and the rod being held at its upper end inwardly toward the shutter 29 by a spring 35. The lower outer end of the rod 31 lies in the path of a trip finger 36 which projects inwardly from the casing 15 so as to strike the rod 31 when the receptacle 20 is raised and thus release the shutter or bottom 29.

The shutter 29 also carries a rod 37 connected at its upper end by an eye 38 to the shutter. The rod 37 is carried downwardly through a slot 39 formed in the side of the receptacle 20 and also through the sleeve 26, the'rod being carried down atthe exterior of the receptacle to a point spaced below the same. When the rod 3'? is forced upwardly it swings the shutter or bottom 29 into raised position.

he shaft 24 is provided with a pulley 4O spaced from the wheels 23 and over which is secured a belt 41 having one end fixed to the pulley and its other end attached at 42 to a vertically movable actuating rod The lower end of the rod 43 is slidable in a bracket 44 carried by the casing 15 and the upper end of the rod 43 has an outturned handle 45 thereon which projects through a slot 46 formed in the front wall of the easing 15. The rod 43 is provided at an intermediate point with a stop sleeve 47 which may be secured thereto by a set screw or the like to obtain the desired adjustment and which is adapted to engage at its upper and lower sides locking pawls 48 and 49 which are carried upon the opposite ends of a rocking lever 50 pivoted intermediate its ends on a stud 51 projecting inwardly from the casing 15.

The upper pawl 48 is pivoted between its ends at 52 and the inner or heel end of the pawl is adapted to move upwardly against a depending stop shoulder 53 so that the outer end of the pawl 48 can not move below a horizontal position. The pawl 49 is pivoted at 54 intermediate its ends and its inner end is adapted to engage an upwardly tacing stop shoulder 55 carried upon the lower end of the lever 50 so that the pawl 49 can not move upwardly beyond a horizontal position. These pawls 48 and 49 are adapted to hold the stop 47 and the rod 43 in either raised or lowered positions until the lever 50 is rocked for releasing the pawls from the stop 47.

Arranged adjacent to the lever 50 is a coin chute 56 which opens through the front wall oi the casing 15 for receiving coins and which is provided in one side with a slot 57 through which projects a detent 58 pivoted 59 and adapted to be struck at its inner end by a coin 60 as the latter falls through the chute 56. The detent 58 has a heel portion 61 disposed at an angle to the detent and which normally holds the detent upwardly in a slot 57 but which is adapted to be overbalanced by the coin 60 to raise the heel 61 against the lower end of the lever 50 to s ring the latter inwardly toward the rod 43 so that when the rod is lowered, as shown in Fig. 2, it will be locked in such position until the lever 50 is swung in a reverse direction.

The lever 50 is relatively light and is carefully balanced on its pivot 51 so that but light pressure is required for moving the lever back and forth.

The coin chute 56 opens into a coin box 62 or the like which is disposed in the lower end of the casing 15.

The recepiiacle 20 carries upon its lower end a flexible neck or connecting portion 63 which opens at its upper end into the receptacle 20 and at its lower end opens into a chute 64 which is of relatively broad construction at its upper end and which gradually converges at its lower end into a cylindrical nozzle which projects through a vertical slot 65 formed in the front wall or the casing 15. The chute 64 is pivoted at 66 intermediate its ends in such position that the peanuts or the like are permitted to flow list into the pan 64 embodying the upper end of the chute and when the chute is swung into the position shown in Fig. 3

the peanuts are permitted to flow downwardly into a bag 67 or the like which may be placed over the outer end or". the chute. The chute carries upon its inner end a curved finger 68 lyin in the path of the rod 37 and adapted to engage the same to raise the rod and close the bottom 29 when the inner end of the chute is swung upwardly.

The shaft 24 carries a pulley 69 over and'in line with the lower edge of a slot 77' through which the bags .may be individually pro ected.

bag from the stack through the slotYT so that the user may grasp the bag, and withoraw it from the casing or cabinet.

The chute 64c pivotally carries one "end-of a pull rod 78' which extends to the lower end portion of the lever 50 and isprovided with anelo'ngated loop 79 engaging an eye 80 mounted onthe lower end'ofthelever 50, the loop 79 being of-suiiici-ent length to permit the free inward movement of the lever 50 by the chute 64. n

The operating rod 43 maybe provided with a clamp 81 secured thereto and pivotally to a rod32 which extends to a. phonograph or the like" for tripping the same when the rod is lowered. The chute 64:

'is provided at its inner end with a laterally ext-ending; finger83 adapted to trip a latch as carried by; the casing 15 and which is provided, vith. a. rod85'which extends to the advertising device 1901' the like for tripping the same --fojr operation .WllQlI the outer end of the chute (leis lowered; I

inoperation, the receptacleQO is adjusted to receive the desired-amount of peanuts or the like in its, upper end and is oflsuiiicient weight to move downwardlyintothegbottom otthe hoppcr l'l whenflthemechanism is released. f i

Vlhcn a coin 60 is dropped in'the chute 56 the coinstriires the detcnt 58 and rocks the levar 5O inwardly at its lower end. The handle 4-5 is now depressed tolforce the rod 43 downwardly and turn the wheel 40 and the shaft 24. This movement turns the wheels 23 and forces the receptacle 20 upward through the contents of the hopper 17 and carries a quantity of the peanuts or the like upwardly in the top of the receptacle. When the receptacle reaches its uppermost position the stop 36 strikes the rod 31 and moves the upper end of the rod outwardly in the notch 32 to release the bottom 29 when the contents of the measuring receptacle 20 tall downwardly through the'recep-- tacle and into the flexible neck 63 to the pan or upper end of the chute 64.

V The. roller. 75 is proportioned to partially advance the'lowermost the detent 58 without rocking.

ratchet wheel- 73 so as'not-todisturb the fitted'over the lower endofthe chute 64 and the said lower end'depressed as shown in Fig. 3 so that the contents ofthe chute may freelyslide downtherethrough into the bag. Atthis time the arm 68on the rear end of the chute Gestrikes therod 37 and moves it upwardly to close the bottom 29 and to pull therod 7 8* upwardly for swinging the lever 50 into a reverse position \Vhenthe pawl 49 is pulled away from the stop 47 the rec'eptacle-is'free to movedowniiia'rdly and turn the wheels 23 and the shaft I 24 back into their-normal-lposition. The rod i3is thus raised-and is tripped past-the upper pawl 48 and the stop 'flis locked above the pawl so that the rod 43 icannotibe forced downwardly until a second coin. is placed in the slotor chute 56. The pulley '71'is turned backwardly as the rod 43. is

raised but the pawl 74 merely idles-over the P sit-ion of the bags in the stack. 1

' Itis of courseunderstood that various the details of construction and..-designofthe above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing. from; the spirit thereof, such changes-and. modifications being-restricted onlyby the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. A vending machinecomprising a vertically-movable receptacle having a pivvoted bottom, a vertically movableoperating meniber connected to the receptaclefor-raising thesame, coin controlled locking meansfor holding; theoperating. member in; position with the receptacle. raised;dispensingnneans including a device for. releasing, the bottom of the, receptacle upon upward movement of thelatter, andmeans for releasingsaid operating-m'ember when the dispensing means is operated. 1

2. A vending machinei comprising a :con

= tainer for articles .to: be. vended, auncasuring receptacle movable vertically through the bottom of the container, an operating meinber connected to the measuring receptacle for raising the same, coin controlled means for locking the operating member against movement and releasable by a com,

changes and modifications may be ma'de in I a secondlocking means controlled by a coin I for, locking the operating member subsequent to operation to maintain the measuring receptacle ra1sed,' means for rcleasmg the contents from the receptacle, and means for releasing said second locking means to permit the operating member to move back into a locked normal position.

3. A vending machine comprising a vertically movable measuring receptacle having a pivoted bot-tom, an operating member connected to the receptacle for raising the same when the member is depressed, locking means for holding the operating member in raised position and releasable by a coin, a second locking means adapted to be set by the coin for holding the operating member depressed, means for releasing said pivoted bottom upon raising of the receptacle, and means for actuating said second locking means for releasing the operating member to permit the receptacle to drop into normal position.

a. A vending machine comprising a vertically movable receptacle having a pivoted bottom. a shaft. a wheel on the shaft, a flexible element secured to the wheel and to the receptacle, a second wheel on the shaft, a flexible element secured to the second wheel and extending thereon in a direction opposite to that in which said flexible element extends from the first wheel, an operating member connected to the flexible element of the second wheel, a; coin controlled locking means for holding the operating member from depression, a second locking means actuated by the tripping of the first locking means for holding the. operating member depressed when lowered, and a pivoted dispensing chute arranged beneath the receptacle and operatively connected to the bottom thereof for subsequently releasing the second locking means to permit the receptacle returning the parts to normal position.

5. A vending machine comprising a vertically movable receptacle having a pivoted bottom, means for releasing the pivoted bottom upon upward movement of the receptacle, a vertically removable rod operatively connected to the receptacle for raising the same when the rod is depressed, a stop carried by the rod, a rocking lever pivoted adjacent to the rod and having oppositely acting pawls on opposite ends, a delivery chute arranged beneath the receptacle and connected to said rocking lever for swinging the same when the chute is raised into position to engage the upper pawl with said stop and hold the rod in raised position, and coin actuated means for reversing the position of the lever to release the upper pawl from the stop and dispose the lower pawl in the path of the stop, said stop adapted to be interlocked with the lower pawlwhen the rod is depressed.

6. A vending machine comprising a vertcally movable measuring receptacle having a releasable bottom, a delivery chute pivoted beneath the receptacle, means for releasing the bottom of the receptacle, a depressible member connected to the receptacle for raising the same and adapted to be raised by the receptacle when the member is released, a rocking locking member normally disposed in position to lock the depressible member in raised position, coi'n actuated means for shifting the position of the locking member to release the depressible member and subsequently hold the depressible member when depressed, and a connection between the locking member and the chute for returning the locking member to normal position when the chute is swung downwardly. I 7. A vending machine comprising a verti-- cally movable receptacle having a releasable bottom, operating means for raising the receptacle, coin releasable locking means for holding the operating means against operation and for subsequently holding the operating means in position to maintain the receptacle elevated, a delivery device connected to the locking means for returning the same to normal position when the delivery device is actuated, and means for releasing the bottom of the receptacle.

8. A vending machine comprising a vertically movable receptacle having a releasable bottom, shaft, a connection between the shaft and the receptacle, an operating device connected to the shaft for turning the same and raising the receptacle when the operating device is depressed, shiftable locking means for the operating device to normally secure it in raised position and to hold it in lowered position, coin actuated shifting means for changing the locking means from its normal position, a delivery chute connected to the locking means for returning it to normal position when the chute is swung into a delivery position, and means for releasing the bottom of the receptacle upon raising of the latter.

LOUIS E. LA OROIX. 

